The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is the largest transit system between Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC with over 70 local, express and regional bus routes, a light rail line, services for the disabled, and vanpools serving more than 23,000,000 trips  each year. Managed by the Public Transit Department, a department within the City of Charlotte, CATS  maintains a dual focus, managing and continually improving day-to-day operations of the region’s transit services within a six-county area while advancing planning for a regional rapid transit system integrated with land-use plans which includes light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit and expanded bus services.